|
|
5 Ways To Make The Late Season Great
By Mark Melotik
I love bowhunting late-season whitetails, but I learned early on you must have the right mindset, and gear, to thrive in extreme conditions. Keep the following five points in mind to make your late season great!
Realistic Goals
Given ideal conditions the late season can give you a shot at the biggest bucks remaining in the county. However, it’s far more likely you’ll run into does and/or younger bucks. But it can be awfully nice to stock the freezer at a time when most hunters have hung up their bows.
Nasty Is Good
There’s simply nothing like a nose-diving thermometer to get deer—even the oldest and wisest—up and moving in daylight. In the upper Midwest I’ve found single-digit temps (and lower) inspire the most-consistent daylight movement, with the 10- to 20-degree slot the next-best option. With temps much above 20, expect movement only very late, just before sundown, or during the first magical minutes of daylight.
Snow Signs
Snow is a huge reason why I love hunting late; fresh tracks tell me what I need to know to hang killer treestands near the best travel routes and food sources. And even if your late hunt doesn’t pan out, you’ve likely found some killer spots to check out next fall.
Big Packs Rule
Ensuring comfort on stand for up to three hours or more often requires packing extra layers. And long hikes in to stands can require carrying bulky outerwear separately. The answer is a large enough pack to hold it all.
Blinds Can Shine
I love the many advantages of a well-placed treestand, but when winter weather descends, nothing lets you hunt in more comfort than a heat-conserving, wind-breaking ground blind. I consider them essential late-season gear because they’ll keep me in the field no matter what, and tuck in nicely near thickly overgrown bedding areas where no stand trees exist.